Aisha Redux in Dibakar Banerjee’s Next?

Whether or not you liked Anil and Rhea Kapoors’ production Aisha, it was clear that Abhay Deol and Sonam Kapoor made quite an interesting pair. Not the kind of leads one would expect, but that element of surprise only added to their unique chemistry.

And now renowned director Dibakar Banerjee is trying his luck with this new jodi on the block. Sonam and Abhay may well be starring in his next, titled Shanghai. While casting for the film is still on, sources say that the Love Sex Aur Dhokha director has locked in the Aisha jodi as his lead pair. The two will be seen romancing each other in the political thriller despite having had creative differences in their first film.

Abhay was an obvious choice for Banerjee, as the two are friends even when the cameras aren’t rolling. “Apart from having a great work equation, the two are also good friends off the set”, sources reveal.

“Dibakar has spent the last nine months working on the concept and ideation for the film. Unlike his previous films, this one will have violence as the core theme. Shanghai is a thriller that follows a particular incident that happens in Abhay’s character’s life and its repercussions on everyone around him.” However, when contacted, Dibakar denied he has cast Abhay and Sonam as the leads.

Rumours are also abound that Sonam’s father Anil Kapoor will be in the film; Anil has been approached to play a negative role. Even though details are sketchy, it is learnt that Anil is quite excited with the subject offered. If he agrees to do Shanghai, it would be the first time father and daughter will appear in the same project.

The film is being written by Urmi Juvekar and Dibakar himself and is a contemporary adaptation of the 1960 book titled Z, by Greek author Vassilis Vassilikos. Co-produced by PVR Pictures, Shanghai will go on floors by March 2010.